Amid fears that the sweet coastal town of Umdloti is to be swallowed up by the 1000 hectare Sibaya Coastal Precinct the developers have committed to setting aside 60% of the land to open spaces.

Umdloti Urban Improvement Project (UIP) manager Terry-Ann Rens said the townsfolk were fiercely protective over the wildlife and unspoiled bush that surrounds the town so this was a soothing balm on the inevitable loss of their isolation.

Speaking at the official launch of the multi-billion rand property development this morning Sibaya’s development executive Sithembiso Mthembu said a nature reserve had been planned within the development which will be available for the public to enjoy.

“Conserving the natural element is of great importance,” he said.

The reserve will include the existing Hawaan Forest, the only significant coastal dune forest in KZN outside of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and will be managed through a Conservation Trust.

75 Kilometers of paths, cycle lanes and hiking trails are planned as part of the development.

The precinct has been split into seven nodes to be developed over the next 15 to 20 years.

This is one of the largest projects undertaken by Tongaat Hulett to date and follows many successful developments including Zimbali Coastal Resort, Mt Edgecome, Umhlange Ridge New Town and Cornubia.

Tongaat Hulett CEO Peter Staude said that despite the tough current economic climate they would not hold back on the precinct because it was a development they believed in.

“When we developed Gateway everyone said we were crazy. Now we would have been crazy not to have done it!

“Likewise with the precinct we have been planning this for twenty years.

“Today is more than a milestone, it is a watershed moment.”

Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala gave the launch his official stamp by cutting the ribbon that symbolized the official opening of the precinct for construction.

And that's it folks! The ribbon was cut to launch Sibaya Coastal Precinct at Umdloti @TongaatHulett @nccourier pic.twitter.com/9zCj4yFp2b

— Lesley Naudé (@LesleyNaude) November 4, 2016

Zikalala said the project served as proof that even in times of generally depressed market conditions, KZN remained an obvious choice for the discerning investor

“Indeed, this residential property development demonstrates that KwaZulu-Natal’s resilience as a regional economic powerhouse is able to withstand even the generally subdued global economic conditions.”

The MEC said the project, which is expected to inject an estimated R50 billion into the regional economy and also create some 300 000 jobs, would go a considerable way to cementing KZN’s reputation as one of the country’s leading regions with respect to property and real estate business.

“KZN is a holiday resort paradise – with a substantial domestic tourism market which is gradually being complemented by growing figures of international visitors.

“These factors and others contribute to the province becoming one of the most sought after parts of South Africa by property developers and buyers intent on securing private residential apartments or holiday retreats.”

The North Coast Courier’s drone took a fly over the construction site:

The offical Sibaya Precinct video:

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